• About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Shop Merch
SWHELPER
  • Login
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • LGBTQ
  • Justice
No Result
View All Result
Post Jobs
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Mental Health
  • LGBTQ
  • Justice
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Health Mental Health

Pet Dogs Help Kids Feel Less Stressed, Study Finds

SWHELPERbySWHELPER
05/17/2017
in Mental Health, News, Parenting
0
Pet Dogs Help Kids Feel Less Stressed, Study Finds
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Pet dogs provide valuable social support for kids when they’re stressed, according to a study by researchers from the University of Florida, who were among the first to document stress-buffering effects of pets for children.

Darlene Kertes and colleagues tested the commonly held belief that pet dogs provide social support for kids using a randomized controlled study – the gold standard in research.

“Many people think pet dogs are great for kids but scientists aren’t sure if that’s true or how it happens,” Kertes said. Kertes reasoned that one way this might occur is by helping children cope with stress. “How we learn to deal with stress as children has lifelong consequences for how we cope with stress as adults.”

For their study, recently published in the journal Social Development, the researchers recruited approximately 100 pet-owning families, who came to their university laboratory with their dogs. To tap children’s stress, the children completed a public speaking task and mental arithmetic task, which are known to evoke feelings of stress and raise the stress hormone cortisol, and simulates real-life stress in children’s lives. The children were randomly assigned to experience the stressor with their dog present for social support, with their parent present, or with no social support.

“Our research shows that having a pet dog present when a child is undergoing a stressful experience lowers how much children feel stressed out,” Kertes said . “Children who had their pet dog with them reported feeling less stressed compared to having a parent for social support or having no social support.”

Samples of saliva was also collected before and after the stressor to check children’s cortisol levels, a biological marker of the body’s stress response. Results showed that for kids who underwent the stressful experience with their pet dogs, children’s cortisol level varied depending on the nature of the interaction of children and their pets.

“Children who actively solicited their dogs to come and be pet or stroked had lower cortisol levels compared to children who engaged their dogs less,” said Kertes, an assistant professor in the psychology department of UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “When dogs hovered around or approached children on their own, however, children’s cortisol tended to be higher.”

The children in the study were between 7 to 12 years old.

“Middle childhood is a time when children’s social support figures are expanding beyond their parents, but their emotional and biological capacities to deal with stress are still maturing,” Kertes explained. “Because we know that learning to deal with stress in childhood has lifelong consequences for emotional health and well-being, we need to better understand what works to buffer those stress responses early in life.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
Tags: Mental HealthparentingpetsSocial & Behavioral SciencesStress and Anxiety
Previous Post

Children Following Deported Parents Face Educational Roadblocks

Next Post

How Focusing on Parent-Child Relationships Can Prevent Child Maltreatment

Next Post
How Focusing on Parent-Child Relationships Can Prevent Child Maltreatment

How Focusing on Parent-Child Relationships Can Prevent Child Maltreatment

Please login to join discussion
ADVERTISEMENT

Featured Jobs

Registered Nurse and Social Worker
Newton, MS - Undisclosed
The East Central Planning and Development District...
Program Coordinator (Student Life Specialist), Union Board
Bloomington, IN - Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington is a leading public...
Social Worker - Field - Lee County, MS
Tupelo, MS - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Social Worker - Field - Lee County, MS
Jackson, MS - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Pre-Independent Licensed Therapist
Edina, MN - Optum
CARE Counseling, part of the Optum family of busin...
Pre-Independent Licensed Therapist
Mankato, MN - Optum
CARE Counseling, part of the Optum family of busin...
Pre-Independent Licensed Therapist
Minneapolis, MN - Optum
CARE Counseling, part of the Optum family of busin...
Pre-Independent Licensed Therapist
Saint Louis Park, MN - Optum
CARE Counseling, part of the Optum family of busin...
Pre-Independent Licensed Therapist
Lake Elmo, MN - Optum
CARE Counseling, part of the Optum family of busin...
Pre-Independent Licensed Therapist
Minneapolis, MN - Optum
CARE Counseling, part of the Optum family of busin...
Pre-Independent Licensed Therapist
Minneapolis, MN - Optum
CARE Counseling, part of the Optum family of busin...
Pre-Independent Licensed Therapist
Lake Elmo, MN - Optum
CARE Counseling, part of the Optum family of busin...
LCSW- Licensed Social Worker Compensation Negotiable up to $51.00 Per Hour
Newark, NJ - Delta-T Group North Jersey, Inc.
Delta-T Group connects professionals with client o...
School Social Worker starting at $42/hr - 2025-26 School Year
Island Heights, NJ - Delta-T Group North Jersey, Inc.
Our client is seeking School Social Workers or the...
Licensed Independent Social Worker - Outpatient
Columbus, OH - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Assistant Director of Recruitment (Student Services Generalist)
Bloomington, IN - Indiana University
The Hamilton Lugar School of Global and Internatio...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Bothell, WA - LifeStance Health
Sign-On Bonus!We are actively looking to hire tale...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Sammamish, WA - LifeStance Health
We are actively looking to hire talented Licensed ...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient
Lake Underhill, FL - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient
Baldwin Park, FL - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Yonkers, NY - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Chandler, AZ - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
PRN/PT Social Worker MSW 1
Temple, TX - Baylor Scott & White Health
JOB SUMMARY PRN Weekends and Weekdays needed!The P...
PRN/PT Social Worker MSW 1
Temple, TX - Baylor Scott & White Health
*JOB SUMMARY* *PRN Weekends and Weekdays needed!* ...
REGIONAL MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Roanoke Rapids, NC - Liberty Health
REGIONAL MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER Roanoke Rapids-NC-2...
Surgical Assistant - Oral Surgery
Caldwell, ID - Whitewater Oral Sugery Group
Dental Assistant Oral SurgerySurgical Assistant Or...
Dental Surgical Assistant
Ocean Township, NJ - Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
COMS ORAL SURGERYhttps://njcoms.com/Dental Assista...
Research, Evaluation and Learning Officer
New York, NY - Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
Description of Opportunity The Research, Evaluatio...
Medical Social Worker
Columbus, OH - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
Providence, RI - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
DEFERRED ASSIGNMENT PERMANENCY SPECIALIST Job Details | State of Illinois
Sterling, IL - State of Illinois
DEFERRED ASSIGNMENT PERMANENCY SPECIALISTWe contin...
POOL - Undergraduate Sexual Assault Prevention Course Lecturer
Lawrence, KS - University of Kansas
Position OverviewA lecturer in the School of Socia...
Restorative Justice Program Coordinator
Lawrence, KS - University of Kansas
Position OverviewThe Office of Student Conduct and...
Surgical Assistant - Oral Surgery
Parker, CO - Colorado Surgical Arts
Colorado Surgical Arts - Parker, CO Dental Assista...
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Fayetteville, NC - Liberty Health
HOSPICE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER Fayetteville-NC-2830...
Clinical Nurse Consultant or Psychologist or Occupational Therapist or Social Worker - Senior (Mental Health Consultation Liaison Clinician Headspace)
Bundaberg, Queensland - Wide Bay Hospital & Health Service
Location:    Child & Youth Mental He...
Social Work - Part-Time Lecturer Pool
Fullerton, CA - California State University, Fullerton
Social Work - Part-Time Lecturer Pool Department...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The Woodlands, TX - Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
Job ID: 7486 Job Type: Full Time Job Summary: ...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - Outpatient
Jacksonville, FL - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Surgical Assistant
Wayne, PA - Chester County Oral Surgery & Dental Implants
Chester County Oral Surgery & Dental ImplantsWebsi...
Medical Social Worker - Bilingual Spanish
Allentown, PA - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Treatment Coordinator - Oral Surgery
Greeley, CO - Precision Oral Surgery - Greeley
Treatment Coordinator Oral SurgeryPrecision Oral S...
Surgical Assistant
Louisville, KY - Kentuckiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Dental Assistant Oral SurgerySurgical Assistant Or...
Clinical Nurse or Psychologist or Occupational Therapist or Social Worker (Prison Mental Health Clinician)
Maryborough, Queensland - Wide Bay Hospital & Health Service
Location:    Prison Mental Health Servic...
Medical Social Worker (LSW)
Philadelphia, PA - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Medical Social Worker-OSH
Norristown, PA - CVS Health
At CVS Health, we're building a world of health ar...
Licensed Outpatient Therapist - Hybrid or Onsite Twin Cities
Plymouth, MN - Optum
CARE Counseling, part of the Optum family of busin...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
South Kingstown, RI - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
Greenville, RI - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Carmel, NY - LifeStance Health
At LifeStance Health, we believe in a truly health...
View All JobsPost a Job
Powered by

  • Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

    Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

    94 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

    694 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Biopsychosocial Perspective to Mental Health and Illness

    3 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Stages of Development: Aging Across the Life Span

    580 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • My Journey as a Teacher and the Future of Education

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
SWHELPER

We bring content to support you and the people you care about in their various stages of life. If you are searching in google on how to help or assist a loved one or yourself, check out our content.

LEARN MORE »

  • Terms of Service
  • Article Submissions
  • Advertising
  • Shop Merch

© 2024 SWHELPER.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Category
    • Business
    • Culture
    • Economy
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Travel
    • Opinion
    • Politics
    • Tech
    • World
  • Find/Post Jobs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop Merch

© 2024 SWHELPER.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    If You Enjoyed This Post
    Join Our Newsletter
    Subscribe
    Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime.
    Close